It’s the first color Universal Monster movie! Phantom of the Opera is presented in gorgeous technicolor, this is the only one of the original Universal Monster movies that won the Oscars it was nominated for, Best Cinematography (Color) and Best Art Direction (Color). While one could argue that the Universal Monster series started with the…
Tag: claude rains
The Invisible Man Returns (1940) – Joe May
It’s more time well spent with the Universal Monsters as I dive into the first sequel to 1933’s The Invisible Man. Vincent Price in one of his earliest performances is Geoffrey Radcliffe, a man imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit. His beloved Helen Manson (Nan Grey) is stunned and refuses to believe he’s guilty….
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – Frank Capra
DK Canada brings me this Frank Capra classic from its What Else to Watch list following its recommendation of It’s A Wonderful Life. THIS movie makes me regret the fact that schools, as a rule, no longer have civics classes. It needs to be seen, as it shows the good and the bad of democracy,…
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – David Lean
The next stop in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is David Lean’s classic film that made a star out of Peter O’Toole. Grabbing seven Oscars at the 1963 Academy Awards, the film walked away with Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best…
Casablanca (1942) – Michael Curtiz
As we move back to the Romance and Melodrama genre in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, we get to revisit one of my favourite films (many people share that opinion, and who can blame them?!) – Casablanca. It came along at just the right time, had just the right cast,…
The Lost World (1960) – Irwin Allen
Yet another adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Challenger adventure comes under review thanks to the Sci-Fi Chronicles book, but despite having a pretty damned great cast, this one flounders, and you need look no father than the ‘ahem’ dinosaurs to know why. And while Irwin Allen made quite a name for himself in television…
Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) – John Carpenter
A John Carpenter film I haven’t seen (there are a couple), and I’m kind of divided on this one. It’s very obvious that this is one of the few films that he didn’t (or couldn’t) have complete control over and is also one of the very few that didn’t have him doing the music…
Romantic Movies for Valentines Day
So it’s Valentine’s Day. You and your sweetie have had a romantic dinner, or a nice walk (pleasant and warm even with the chill in the air), arm in arm, hand in hand, you decide to go back to the apartment and have a cuddle while watching a romantic movie that isn’t overly sappy……
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) – Michael Curtiz
This entry on the 101 Action Movies list is sheer technicolor star-filled pageantry, and a delightful romp through the realms of Sherwood and Nottingham. This is the standard by which all other Robin Hood films that follow were judged by, though I have to be honest, I’m more partial to the Disney animated version (though…
Notorious (1946) – Alfred Hitchcock
Of all the Hitchcock films, and it is a pretty amazing body of work, my favorites are the ones starring Cary Grant. Suspicion, To Catch A Thief (featuring the gorgeous Grace Kelly), my favorite – North By Northwest and Notorious. I decided to revisit Notorious the other night. A taut spy thriller with a heart-wrenching…
The Mind Reels 